When coming back to LGW from TLV this week the UK Immigration Officer told me the chip in my electronic passport was not working (Passport is 5 months old). It wasn't a big deal as he just requested my national photo id (also with a chip).
I have a trip to the US coming up this week and realised that this might be a big issue as your passport is thoroughly checked even before boarding. A friend had a big issue with this some years ago and was even told after a lot of hassle that he flew on his own risk and might as well be on the first flight back after being denied entry.
On the state.gov website I found the quoted information below but is it also the case for visitors?
Is there any way I can check the passport before I leave or should I just try it (as I believe it's still a valid travel document?). I do not have an Android NFC device unfortunately.
What will happen if my electronic passport chip stops working?
The chip in the passport is just one of the many security features of the passport. If the chip fails, the passport remains a valid travel document until its expiration date. You will continue to be processed by the port-of-entry officer as if you had a passport without a chip.